The Reiki Cafe 

I have been growing quite a bit in my spirituality, and find much peace in that. Lately however, I have had many crossroads to choose from and seem to always choose the wrong path, which leads to anger and negativity. I am a very empathetic and kind person, always trying to help those in need, but I keep having to fight the negative thoughts that sometimes enter my mind. Reading my books seem to help during the present moment, but then something comes along reverting me back to the thoughts I do not want to ponder. Any suggestions to keep me on the positive and forward path would be appreciated :)

Peace...

I recommend the book "Taming the Tiger Within", by Thich Nhat Hanh. You might find it helpful.

Blessings,
Aronaya

wolflady,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- one aspect of Karma is 'olde habit patterns' carried forward from previous lives

- being able 'to do otherwise' is one of our 'choices' (part of so-called semi-free will)

>:-}}

- sometimes 'instant karma' can help

- therefore, perhaps some 'random acts of compassion'
will be fruitful

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Coyote

Dear Wolflady,

Perhaps pushing the thoughts & feelings aside is not the answer? Examining the thoughts & feelings might be beneficial. Anger is a red flag that begs for attention. One doesnt have to give into it, but ignoring it does not mean that it has truly gone away. We can change our thoughts but it takes work. Do not give up, this is not an easy road. I have the same struggle. :)

peace & joy,
holobon

Namaste Wolflady,

One thing I have found helpful in falling out of old unwanted patterns of behavior is to make a conscious decision every morning : " just for today I will not ---------". This really takes you in baby steps towards to your final goal until a new pattern of behavior is established.

Also, just deciding "I will not do -------" is not enough, it also helps to define specifically what you will do instead of the targeted unwanted behavior. You are bound to succeed bacause you have already done the most difficult initial step: looking at yourself objectively and acknowledging what you need to change. Hope this helps :)

Mal

Dear Holoban,

I agree with you and the other's postings on this. It's ok to acknowlege the so called negative thought and say thank you, next..and move on. If it lingers breathe in any pain, sit with it. This too shall pass..or write out the negative thoughts and keep writing for 3 pages without stopping whatever comes to the mind as its' good to be aware of what you're thinking before you can change the thought process or divert it. And that comes with letting go of old beliefs and also asking God for help in that as Marianne Williamson says, God will not interfere with the consequences of your thoughts. And we can only think one thought at a time and we can choose our thoughts! That has been scientifially proven. Saying 10 affirmations to every negative thought etc. will help.

peace,

Prosperity

Otoharo!

wolflady, Good for you in your intentions. The events you describe are ego trying to interrupt your apple cart. Say no to ego, and when you are able, simply ignore it and all its entisements.

finality

Hello Wolflady, *hugs**

Bless your heart. Sounds like your having a bit o trouble with yes olde ego. :}

The real issue isn't the ego speaking it your reaction to the thoughts that come into your head. Try being where you are instead of resisting and then getting mad at yourself.
Hey, you can only be where you are in the moment right? To suggest that you should be anywhere else is unkind.
Just another ego trick to keep you bound to the fears that got you there in the first place.
Acceptance is important.
Whatever you are feeling, just accept it.

You get angry.. Ask yourself what does this remind you of? Get deeper into your body instead of checking out. Anger is fear announced, recognize your anger is more a kind of frustration but its roots are fear.
You are doing fine.. Love yourself, support yourself, help yourself grow.
You can do it. Your not alone. Spirit is always with you. On your side and by your side always in all ways.
Let the fear recede and bring peace to yourself by knowing you don't always have to figure it out.
if it appears, know there is a reason and flow with that thought.
Where is your anger really taking? Closer or further away from your center?

Ground yourself.. Call your spirit into your body when you are reflecting or meditating. You are strong and very brave to move through these many issues you just don't see it as such. See the blessings.
Without this discomfort you wouldn't realize something was out of alignment.. You are on time.. No worries.

Know my thought are with you and I'm confident you can do this!

Loving you always,
Jahnavi

wolflady,

Hi.

I would simply offer that thoughts that seem to go away for a while but come back may have been supressed or even repressed which means one has not really worked the issues thru yet.

Once an issue is worked thru this does not mean such thoughts may not enter one's processes again. Afterall, most of us are not hermits and have to encounter other
people every day. The key is that once an issue is worked thru we may ackmowledge the thoughts but then let them pass without the emotional attachments (emotional reactions)

Easier said than done, of course.

LOL

Cheers,

RC

hi wolflady :)

blessings of love and light to you my dear... I know what that feels like. When first growing in my spiritual awakening.. i was often dealt the same thing.. then, for me, i realized it wasnt a "wrong path" just a path I would choose not to do again.. there is a lesson to be learned and maybe you just havent gotten the lesson.. so your guidance keeps steering you on those so called "wrong paths"

just a thought
blessings
peaceful spirit

Dear Wolflady,
Sometimes what work for me is seeing what thoughts lie under my anger, what fear I am connecting to. Sometimes it is simply " this is not fair". It may take time to cut through all the tangled layers of the webs we weave to get back to the truth. I think that is why, for some people, verbal sparring gets there very quickly, it is like a volcono spewing unconsciously what they consciously are not aware of or do not wish to deal with. We push so much down & it collects layer after layer until we are no longer aware of what lies simmering at the bottom of the heap. Which is why when we find ourself "fighting" with ourself or others, the issue may not be the one we think it is.

peace & joy,
holobon

Congratulations!

Your amazing level of awareness has allowed you to step outside your emotional pattern enough to see that you are in fact not your anger and that there might just be another response or "way" to work with that energy.

That in and of itself is so truly amazing ...and puts you well above the curve.
So first of all WELL DONE!

AND ... that is a wonderful sign that you truly are growing "spiritually" if you needed confirmation that is.

What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to choose from so many paths at once this too is a sign of development. This is the fruit of your spiritual endeavor and is a sign of EXCELLENT Karma.

It has been my experience that when confronted with such choices it is handy to sit with it.... just sit there not looking for an answer not looking for anything special or magical...just sitting with the possibilities as they are.

Naturally the "mind" will want to do what it does best, fantasize and build stories, so just keep coming back to sitting there in the present moment. I have found that the answer usually presents itself rather conveniently.

Did I make the right choice? Yes ... ALWAYS

For one...things happen as they happen and could not happen any other way (okay duh I know)

For another... your path is your path... you are walking in a way that you are meant to. I feel we are lead by our "higher selves" to be where we are to learn the things we do for a reason. I also feel that the "path" is very morphic and sometimes accommodates the choices that we make.

Even if we feel we have not made the right choice we are still headed up the mountain as it were, we might have to circumnavigate a stone or a tree, ultimately we will reach the top as long as we keep walking, taking another step. You have come this far and are asking these types of questions, you already know which way is up. Do not doubt your intuition.

Taking the "big picture view" is sometimes helpful in difficult situations. I often think "what am I supposed to learn from this experience" or "how does this situation serve my highest aspiration" these are great little tools to help keep me grounded.

Also realizing that this too is just one moment and how I respond is a reflection of my true self. If you stumble, it's okay get back up another moment is here already waiting for you.

I try not to let my past influence my present moment. Thoughts like "I always" or "I never" tend to flavor my current moment. I like to view each moment as fresh and new (this is an aspiration of course;)) Just keep coming back. When I find myself always-ing or never-ing then I stop and realize what is really hapen-ing.lol

Another thing I do is to look at the facts. Now that you have gained this kind of awareness, I think you will appreciate this aspect. Look at the situation or experience as it is. That is to say, storytelling or attaching emotional value may be unhelpful or inappropriate. You are a being of energy ...this is a world of energy...even your thoughts are energy...so seeing the energy of the situation, it's origin, it's path, and what it really is doing can be helpful.

Creating more awareness around the energy of life and just allowing it to be what it is (without the need for me to interfere) has been a tremendous help to me. Often times I discover that feelings of anger and negativity aren't really about me at all. I too am very empathetic and tend to pick up on others very readily. This tool has allowed me to see that I don't need to react to things just because they arise, and it's rarely about me to begin with.

This awareness and allowing keeps me from fighting with my emotions (which typically fuels them) and allows them to pass naturally. Then I can respond to what is truly happening in a genuine way that will benefit all.

Books can be amazing thought provoking tools I am a huge fan of reading and discovering new ideas and ways of thinking.

I have found that when unraveling emotional karmic patterns it is not merely a mental activity... In my experience this type of endeavor takes some systemic rewiring.

Just as you are not your emotions, you are not your thoughts. Thoughts of negativity or even joy and bliss are as fleeting as any emotion you might have. It is beneficial to let them pass as well just as one might do in meditation.

Often I have had recurring thoughts as I am obviously tied into my own karmic patterns. Seeing the thought form for what it is and not attaching emotion to it or blame or guilt or anything at all, can help you begin to see the truth of the situation. These feelings are sometimes triggered. That is to say they are brought about by an event or occurrence. Okay let's back up...if you can "see" the thought, negativity or whatever it might be arising again you can stop right there and back track...what was happening just before the thought of negativity arose. That is the beginning point for me.

If I can find what "caused" the thought to arise then I can meditate on that and follow the thread back to it's origin and see what the core truth is. This sets me up to do healing on that aspect of my "self" (karmic energy self, egoic self, or past life self, the labels don't really matter for we are merely dealing with the direct experience of the energies involved).

This for me is freedom...to be awash in the sea of emotion and thought fully aware and grounded with the ability to choose what I respond to and which course to take.

may you be filled with loving kindness
may you be well
may you be peaceful and at ease
may you be happy
may you be free

namaste

patrick sorry for the enormous post hehe....love

Dear wolflady
Negative thoughts are the most difficult to rid one self of they generate at an alarming rate. even multiplying on each other simutanously.

Our path in life is often crossed by distinct barriers, which have to be negoiated with care, a true positive path is not always available to us.

At these junctions in life it is nessasary to take a small pull to say to one self, do I really need to take on board this extra burdon.

Try and look at the problem from afar also ask your guardian angel for guidance you may be supprised with the answer.

If there is a specific problem that is difficult to deal with,try this little remedy.

Imagine your problem and place it in a pink balloon and blow it away on the wind, three times usually rids you of the problem.

Should this not work write your problem down on paper,tear the paper in pieces and burn it, you must watch it burn.

Be careful not to let your energies to be sapped by others with problems that are not related to you.

Take a look at your friends and asess if any are dumping on you on a frequent basis, this also adds to your circle of anger.

Wolflady you have touched on a subject that we have also experienced we have slowly worked ourselves through the problem you will.

I hope this helps.

Angels are always with you

Neil

Dear Jahnavi18,
Wow.. I just was able to read your response. As I read it I would chuckle every now and again because of the realization that everything you said was so perfectly true. As I sit here thinking of your words, it does make alot of sense and certainly holds alot of truths :)
Thank you for your inspiration and words!!!

~~Peace~~
Joanne

Dear Peaceful Spirit,
Several people in the past have told me the exact thing about a certain "path" I seem to keep encountering and walking it several times... saying that the lesson I am supposed to learn hasn't happened yet and that's why this keeps happening. I wish I would learn this lesson quickly because it's getting tiring.... LOL

Thanks so much!
~~Peace~~
Joanne

Dear Tenguryu,
I truly enjoyed what you had to say... thank you so much for such wonderful insight and kind words.. :)

~~Peace~~
Joanne

Dear Neil,
Thanks for all your kind words... I especially like the part about writing down your problems and watching them burn...LOL
I like your approach to things...and I appreciate your thoughts..!!

~~Peace~~
Joanne

Dear Joanne

Many thanks for your reply,keep your face always in the breeze, animals sence danger on the wind but also direction.

My kindest thoughts

Angels are always with you

Neil

Hi,
I know exactly what you are going through. I myself had to work on this same issue. At first I thought that is was just the people and situations around me that was responsible for my lower energy and thoughts. It took me a few years of self transfermation to realize that I was the only person that effected my thoughts and life situations. If you are into angels there is an excellent book that really transformed my life and my attitude. Healing with the Angels by Doreen Virtue. When you find yourself with negative thoughts try not to get angry with yourself for having them acknowledge it and then ask your self to let the thought go and try to replace it with a positive thought. ex: negative thoughts on money :I don;t have enough money" can be replaced with something like " I have unlimited income and financial freedom" This may sound very trivial but I found that simple changes like this made a huge difference for. I hope that this helps you or just lets you know that it happens to everyone and that it is part of your spiritual growth. Without challanges we would have nothing to learn and grow from and we wouldn't need to be here on the earth plain.
Blessings,
Inner Indulgence

wolflady_02 said on

>I have been growing quite a bit in my spirituality, and find much peace in that. Lately however, I have had many crossroads to choose from and seem to always choose the wrong path, which leads to anger and negativity. I am a very empathetic and kind person, always trying to help those in need, but I keep having to fight the negative thoughts that sometimes enter my mind. Reading my books seem to help during the present moment, but then something comes along reverting me back to the thoughts I do not want to ponder. Any suggestions to keep me on the positive and forward path would be appreciated :)
>
>Peace...

Otoharo!

Patrick, what you are saying here has brought back an expeience I had in 1996, when we were encountering a window we could go through that would be a new state of consciousness. The group that is doing this was a group that I founded for my former clients and students that wanted to be a group. I was put upon to be able to get through this window as I knew all the group would and I did not want to be left out! My difficulty was recurring thoughts. I finally drove down to a parking area on the bank of the Columbia River and sat in my vehicle, facing the forest on the opposite bank. The thoughts that recurred were like pictures of a person I resented. As this face came up for me, I clinched my palms and pounded the air to punctutate my statements as I said, "I love you". I kept doing this, with whatever repetitive thought came, and finally, I knew I had won. I was now incharge of me, not ego.

That is what ego does to trip us up when we begin new spiritual steps.

finality